Probe S.I. bust of 4’8” man, says pol
A Staten Island councilwoman said the incident where cops beat and used a stun gun on a 4-foot-8, 85-pound man while he was handcuffed must be “expeditiously” investigated.
Debi Rose expressed concern over the Sept. 28 arrest of William Colon, 24, who was already handcuffed when 121st Precinct cops punched him at least three times in the ribs and zapped him twice, as the Daily News reported Wednesday. The incident was captured on cell phone video.
“The accounts and visual images of excessive force and repeated use of Tasers are disturbing and elicit questions that require answers,” she said. “The community and I are expecting a transparent and swift review and therefore we hope the (Civilian Complaint Review Board) and the district attorney’s office will investigate this expeditiously.”
Added Colon’s defense lawyer, Chris Pisciotta, “It shocks the conscience that the NYPD has remained silent on the post-arrest beating that our client suffered and on officer efforts to justify the illegal conduct by coercing false charges.”
The city’s top cop said little on the case when asked by reporters Wednesday. “We’ll take a look at it and see if the force that was used was necessary,” Police Commissioner James O’Neill said.
None of the nine officers involved in the incident have had their duty status changed.
Colon was ostensibly arrested on misdemeanor charges that he punched his girlfriend, Lissette Torres, but Torres, 19, told the Daily News on Sunday that cops coerced her into filing the complaint and dictated her statement “word for word.” The Staten Island district attorney’s office declined to comment Wednesday.
Lawyers with the Legal Aid Society released a new photo of Colon taken in the hospital, where cops had him in leg shackles and handcuffs for four days after his arrest. He wasn’t even allowed to leave his bed to use the bathroom.